This is a great topic, and as the parent of two little ones, a decision I wrestle with. I found a good wealth of information at http://www.fluguru.com, but of course the family doctor is the best resource for this.

11:13 am September 15, 2009

Bill Horvath wrote :

I'm a BIG FAN of vaccines: I'm fully vaccinated, as are my wife and kids, and we all get flu shots every year as well. I'm struggling, however, with a decision on the H1N1 vaccine, as the last time we had swine flu in this country (1976), the vaccine may have been poorly constructed, leading to GBS, which nearly killed my grandfather. (See http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol12no01/05-1007.htm for more background.)

Is there something about swine flu that makes it particularly likely (or not) that a vaccine designed to prevent it could cause this kind of problem again? I have no idea. Has vaccine production and testing technology advanced sufficiently in the last forty years to keep this problem from recurring? Again, I have no idea. I haven't read anything in the press about either of these questions, and would greatly appreciate answers before I get vaccinated.

3:05 pm September 15, 2009

Sheepy wrote :

Why would you vaccinate your children against H1N1 when it has proven to be such a non-issue? That makes no sense. Quit believing whatever your idiotic government tells you, and start taking care of the highly evolved immune system that you have currently. It is amazing how many people will just blindly accept the words of anyone in a position of "authority" without question, even when it comes to injecting chemicals into their children. How much more obvious does it need to be (from the financial debacle and the healthcare "debate") to a sane person that our dear government is in complete servitude to corporate interests; the same interests that mass produce the vaccine that your government is encouraging you to give to you kids? For once, think about what you are doing to your kids. You have a choice to be stupid; they do not have that luxury yet.

10:09 pm September 15, 2009

RMankovitz wrote :

The CDC, in its infinite lack of wisdom, has recommended that pregnant women get a flu vaccine in the first trimester, even if it contains mercury, the second most potent neurotoxin in nature. The standard vaccine contains thimerosal, but mercury-free versions are available if you ask for it. See:

Our polititians have lied to us so often and so egregiously lately that we may see many adults this fall hesitant to believe the government's assurances of vaccine safety.

8:39 am September 16, 2009

WhySoMuchAutism? wrote :

Thank you Dr. Parker for your short and insightful comment. And you are absolutely correct. I do not trust my government to tell the truth in this matter, and many other matters as well, plain and simple.

1:12 am September 19, 2009

P. Jennings wrote :

"Parents seem to be focused on how much is uncertain about the H1N1 flu and vaccine . . . "

Well, first of all there is the memory of the previous swine flu vaccine fiasco. MAJOR fiasco.

Second, there is the current and long-enduring fiasco of non-lethal and not even really scary diseases suddenly being "vaccinatabile." LOTS of money for Big Pharma. Measles is a perfect example; if kids have sufficient vitamin A and the B vitamins, they will not have a problem with measles. End of story.

Third, there is the seriously-degraded opinion of the CDC and the NIH. Perhaps this is a problem caused by, and inherited from, the GW Bush administration. But whatever the reason, there are many reasons not to rely on, or sometimes trust at all, the so-called information coming from those quarters.

So why should parents even consider one more vaccine . . . would that be 37 instead of 36, or what?
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